3. Verbs and Voice
Voice is the form a verb
takes to indicate whether
the subject of the verb
performs or receives the
action.
There are two types of
voice: active voice and
passive voice.
4. Active Voice
Active voice is used to show that the
subject of the sentence is performing or
causing the action.
Example:
Lebron threw the basketball before the
buzzer.
Lebron shot the basketball from the free
throw line.
Lebron scored three points.
5. Passive Voice
Passive voice is used when the subject is
the recipient of the action.
Example:
The ball was thrown by Lebron.
The basket was shot by Lebron.
The score was made by Lebron.
6. Why does it matter?
STRONG WRITING
USES ACTIVE
VOICE!!!!
7. Why does it matter?
Active voice is more direct and concise.
Passive voice is usually wordier.
Active voice is like watching Lebron play.
Passive voice is like watching gum stuck on
the bleachers in the stands.
MOST OF THE TIME, YOU WANT TO USE ACTIVE
VOICE!!!!
8. When would you WANT to use
passive voice?
When intentionally trying to hide the subject of the sentence.
For example, a politician might say, “The mistake was made by
someone.” Hiding the subject helps him/her hide the blame.
When intentionally trying to minimize the guilt of the subject.
For example, a cheating boyfriend might say, “Cheating was
committed by me.”
When passive voice better emphasizes the main point of the
message, such as “Children were harmed by the drunk driver.”
9. Form of Passive Voice Verbs
The passive voice requires a "double verb" and
will always consist of a form of the verb "to be"
and the past participle (usually the "en/ed/t"
form) of another verb.
Example:
Active: John baked the bread.
Passive: The bread was baked by John.
(Was is a form of the verb “be”.)
10. Form of Passive Voice Verbs
Writers should be familiar with the forms of "to
be" , often called linking verbs, so that they
can easily identify the passive voice in their
work.
Review the forms of "to be":
am, is, are, was, were, be, being,
been
11. Form of Passive Voice Verbs
Note the forms of "to be" in the examples of the
verb "to kick" in various forms of the passive
voice:
is kicked----------------had been kicked
was kicked-------------is going to be kicked
is being kicked---------will be kicked
has been kicked-------can be kicked
was being kicked------should be kicked
12. Form of Passive Voice Verbs
Examples:
Passive: The cookies were eaten by the
children.
Active: The children ate the cookies.
Passive: The tunnels are dug by the
gophers.
Active: The gophers dug the tunnels.
13. Weird Version of this lesson…
http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=2
5187&CategoryID=3564
14. Let’s Practice
Label the following sentences ACTIVE or PASSIVE.
1. Louise made the chocolate cake.
2. The chocolate cake was made by Louise.
3. The package was advertised by the travel agent.
4. The travel agent advertised the package.
5. The chain was broken by my brother.
6. My brother broke the chain on my bike.
7. I hemmed the prom dress.
8. The prom dress was hemmed by me.
9. The pencil on the floor was broken by him.
10.He broke the pencil on the floor.
15. Let’s Practice
Directions: Change the sentences below to the active
voice.
1. The statue is being visited by hundreds of tourists
every year.
2. My books were stolen by someone yesterday.
3. These books had been left in the classroom by a
careless student.
4. Coffee is raised in many parts of Hawaii by plantation
workers.
5. The house had been broken into by someone while
the owners were on vacation.
16. Rewrite the following paragraph in
the active voice.
Last summer our house was painted by me. First, the
exterior was washed using warm water and a mild
detergent. Then all of the chinks in the walls were
sealed with putty. After the putty had had a chance
to dry, the exterior could be painted. A latex paint
was used because it is easy to apply and cleans up
with water. A whole week was needed to finish this
part of the job. A color was used that was very close
to the original color. When the job was finished, a
great deal of satisfaction was felt by me. Even my
dad said that a good job was done.
